This blog is dedicated to the memory of my beautiful girl Destiny. She was an American Eskimo / Border Collie mix. She had been diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) in April of 2008, but had tenacity and a strong will and a love for life.... I thought perhaps sharing my story would help other 4-legged friends and DogMa's who have gone through the same struggles, heartache, and never ending love and adoration.

Friday, December 9, 2011

My sweet girl Destiny. This week I finally fulfilled my last earthly obligation to you... the financial matters of your medical bills. It took every resource I had left, and many sleepless nights, but this past Monday I sent via priority mail payment in full. "Destiny's Credit Card" is finally laid to rest.

And I have wept every day since as if it is the day I lost you.

Most people would be elated to pay off a bill. It would be such a relief to have the burden and the anxiety finally lifted off their shoulders. Celebration would be in order. For me, it's left a new sense of loss that is as fresh as the day I said goodbye. You see, my friend... I no longer have to take care of you. You ran free on January 16th, 2009. I finally got set free this week... and its an odd feeling that I just don't know what to do with. No more fretting... no more worrying... the treatments we started back in the spring of 2008 are finally ... finally finished.

In a way, I am grateful that I had the distraction of financial upset right after losing you. Losing my job four days after saying goodbye to you wasn't easy... but it gave me something to focus on. All my energy went into staying afloat - I had to press on. Now that urgency is gone, and my mind seems to want to time travel back and mourn you all over again. My grief was interrupted...

So, sweet girl, while my earthly obligation is done, rest assured I still haven't forgotten my promise to you of living out our adventures. Now that all the fretting and worrying has been laid to rest, I want to focus on new projects. My vision is to pay this experience forward, help other Dog-mas who are in need, who face either saying goodbye to their loyal companions or costly medical bills and are forced to choose. I don't know what steps I need to take to get there, but I know you will be guiding me on the trail.

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown